News from CBS calls our attention to the fabulous and under-publicized Kotelnica Mountain of Poland. The village of Białka Tatrzańska there, once about as isolated and remote as any could imagine, now beckons skiers in search of fresh, white, powder and adrenaline. Even though the season is drawing to a close this year, it behooves the avid ski enthusiast to investigate this unsung Polish ski destination.
(Białka Tatrzańska - Kotelnica Białczańska Facebook)
Białka Tatrzańska, a village on the River Białka, is just 20 km from Zakopane and the foothills of the wondrous Tatras. The resort there offer 20 ski lifts and; boarding, sleding, skating, and sledging along with more moderate climactic conditions. You see, Białka Tatrzańska is at a much lower altitude (the summit is only 1372 m) than many European ski resorts, the snow there being augmented extensively by “making” efforts. The effect of great snow and great termperatures (comfort) these last years has been – Białka Tatrzańska becoming Poland’s most trendy ski spot.
Aside the outdoor sporting wonders to be discovered in this part of Poland and Eastern Europe, the way Białka Tatrzańska came to being as a resort is fascinating. You see, the whole enterprise was thought out and carried through by a group of 50 + area farmers. What had been a centuries old agrarian community on the side of the mountain, is now a growing concern ranked on many of Poland’s most visited news and information sites. This says nothing for the resort’s own online endeavors though. Looking at their website (above), it’s easy to see down on the farm resourcefulness has translated into marketing know how.
World Snowboarding Day 2012 (Białka Tatrzańska - Kotelnica Białczańska)
This is no news to people in Eastern Europe, the consistent expansion of Białka Tatrzańska, spas, hotels, infrastructure, and so on, has made the resort something of a regional Mecca. These days skiers from Russian, Ukrainian, Germany and even the UK have increased their visitation even without foreign press and ski news publicity. As an Eastern European destination for Summer and Winter, the little village represents a substantial value. Passes for the slopes, and all else, run about one half similar destinations in the Austrian, French, and Swiss Alps.
For those interested in information about Białka Tatrzańska, please visit the links provided, or the official tourism site of Poland here. There’s a number of nice articles on the Poland site dealing with the resort, as well as nearby Tatra National Park (below). You may want to stop back in here to check out our coming report on Spring in the Tatra Mountains. Until then, enjoy the images.
Feature image courtesy Białka Tatrzańska – Kotelnica Białczańska Facebook